<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) is facing criticism following a report that claims he has repeatedly avoided his job responsibilities, including meetings with constituents and public appearances.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">According to the report, Fetterman declined to meet with three wheelchair-bound veterans who traveled to his office, stating to staffers that he was sick after they arrived. He later informed staffers that he had skipped the meeting to appear on Fox News to discuss the war in Iran, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The report has drawn criticism from members of Fetterman’s own party. Representative Brendan Boyle (D-PA) stated on X, "John Fetterman is a disgrace. Our state deserves better than a lazy trust fund baby who is too lazy to do the job." Boyle has also teased a potential run for Fetterman’s seat in the 2028 election, criticizing Fetterman’s unpredictability and his friendliness toward President Donald Trump.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Fetterman’s office did not respond to a request for comment from the Washington Examiner.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The report, which includes interviews with former Fetterman staffers and internal text messages, depicts a senator who has shown little interest in the daily responsibilities of serving in the Senate. It notes that Fetterman was the only member of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation who refused to meet with constituents who visited Washington in April 2025 to discuss federal grant cuts affecting Eastwick, a flood-prone neighborhood in Philadelphia.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Internal text messages cited in the report also reveal Fetterman expressing frustration about meeting with children at a hospital, reportedly texting an aide, "I’m convinced they just want free trips to DC," while questioning the necessity of the meeting.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">These revelations come as Fetterman has found himself at odds with certain factions within the Democratic Party and has developed closer relationships with Republicans. He has clashed with Democrats over Israel and the party’s approach to socialism.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Fetterman stated last week, "I don’t know if the Democratic Party is ‘big tent’ enough for proud, pro-Israel supporters," arguing that the party has increasingly embraced what he described as a "warped mutation" of socialism. He has also criticized the party for supporting progressive candidates in competitive Senate races, warning that this strategy could cost the party winnable seats.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Fetterman has denied speculation about leaving the Democratic Party to become a Republican or independent, stating, "Never. I’m not being cute. I vote 90-something percent with Democrats."</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">However, he has suggested that the Democratic Party’s position on Israel could become a breaking point for him, saying, "If our party ever becomes, and just makes it official, the anti-Israel party, that’s when I would leave because that’s been a moral clarity for me," according to the Washington Examiner.</p>